Chinese Kia K2 is a good indicator of what’s in store for the Rio sedan

We’re not going to see an identical depiction of the Kia K2 from China in the international Rio Sedan but it’s still a good indicator of what to expect from the subcompact saloon.

The brand new, fourth generation Rio supermini has already been revealed at the Paris Motor Show and now the hatchback is set to receive a sedan sibling – for now in its China-spec K2 version, not the official Rio Sedan. We could see different depictions of the “tiger nose” grille for example – which should ditch K2’s chrome areas in favor of a glossy black look. More so, the entire front end should receive the transplant from the hatchback – meaning it won’t be as dynamic as the Chinese version. Looking where it matters when discussing sedans – at the back – we noticed the K2 is inspired from the good looking Cadenza / K7, with a red insert in lieu of the chrome bar to connect the ample taillights.

The most significant departure from the Rio is the Chinese K2 has a different interior layout and design – the former’s infotainment screen is tablet-like whereas the K2 version is neatly integrated into the center console. There’s also a more upscale appearance thanks to a glossy black piece of trim across the dashboard the vents have been reshaped as well. The K2 sedan is 4400 mm long, 1740 mm wide, 1460 mm tall and will be motivated by a naturally-aspirated 1.4-liter gasoline engine packing 100 hp or a bigger 1.6-liter offering 123 hp. Transmission options include a standard six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic.